Izzy starts Kindergarten

I can't believe my baby is old enough for kindergarten.  She has gone to preschool for the past 2 years, but now suddenly she seems so old.  I have loved having her home with me and spending so much time with her and I'm sad to see her grow up and head off to school, but I also know she will love it and it will be great for her!  She goes to Learning Dynamics twice/week with Mrs. Covington for kindergarten enhancement and then Highland Elementary with Mrs. Beck five days/week for 3 hours.  I love Izzy so much and I'm so proud of her!!

Headed to Learning Dynamics

Izzy and Mrs. Covington.  I am so glad she is going to Learning Dynamics, the class is small (12 kids) and the work is challenging.

I love this beautiful girl, can't believe she started school!

Mommy couldn't stop taking pictures! 

At her door.

Izzy with her buddy, Ellie.  I love that she has friends in her class.  It makes the transition so much better!

I'm not sure who had a harder time saying bye, Mommy or Izzy.

She loved that there's a playground right outside her teacher's door.

I don't know when she learned to pump so high, but she's a pro now.

And just like that, she is lined up ready to go.

Cambry is dancing

So many posts about Brielle and Izzy's activities lately, I wanted to highlight some of Cambry's happenings.  She started a dance class this summer and she has loved it.  She does plies all around the house, along with splits, flips and twirls.

She is full of spunk and sass and I love it, most of the time!  She knows what she wants and she lets you know it.  She is not about to get pushed around.

She loves to sing Rudolph, I love to see the temple, and I am a Child of God before bed.  A few months ago we took away her binkie and moved her to a big girl bed and she has adjusted really well.  She typically goes to bed around 7:30 or 8 and gets up around 7 or 7:30.

She LOVES Grandma.  She wants to talk to Grandma on the phone and is always wanting her to come visit.  She loves to do puzzles, play with babies, dolls, strollers, and kitchen.

She knows her ABC's and can count to 29.  I'm not really sure how she learned either of those because I haven't taught her, I think she picks up on things Izzy does.  She is so cute and we love her so much!!

She did a little dance camp with Miss Debbie and loved it.  She was so excited to finally have her own activities. 

She is full of so much personality!

On August 19 she got her ears pierced.  She had been begging me because she wanted to be like big sis.  She didn't even cry after they pierced the first one.  But she was screaming pretty good after the second one.  A big hug calmed her right down and then she ran off with Izzy to make a wish in the wishing well. 

She picked pretty pink earrings. 

She loved eating snow cones this summer and rainbow was her favorite. 

Montana with the Johnsons

What can I say, Cooke City is my happy place.  I have so many childhood memories from this beautiful place.  It is so peaceful and relaxing.  I always love when we are able to share this place with other people.  This year the Johnson family joined us. 

Love my kids being in the mountains exploring. 

These 3 were inseparable.  I was worried that Izzy and Ellie might get tired of each other and start fighting after a couple days, but they played together great the whole time.  

We left Wednesday morning around 9 and headed up.  We stopped at McDonalds for lunch and about 30 minutes later, Cambry threw up in the car.  Nothing like a little motion sickness and unhealthy food to start the trip.  We got her cleaned up and back on the road. 

Wednesday evening we played in the water and went on a 4-wheeler ride around Paradise Acres.

On Thursday we headed up Lulu Pass.  Mike drove his truck so we could set up a home base at the top.  The rest of us took 4-wheelers and razors.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous, sunny and mid 70's. 

We made our way over to the gold mine and looked around for fool's gold.  I remember going here as a kid every summer hoping that I could find real gold and strike it rich!

They were always ready for a ride.  The scenery is gorgeous!

Ready to roll.

The razor is great for the little kids because then they are buckled in and I feel safer.

Seth brought some guns so we had target practice.  

I had never really shot a gun before, so I didn't know what to think, but I actually had fun and hit the bull's eye a couple of times. 

Of course, the drone came on the trip.  Mike got some really cool videos.

Mike with is other half.

On Friday we did the hour loop.  Izzy was in heaven riding horses.  Manina, Seth, Jake, and Ellie also came along for the ride.  It was fun listening to Ellie and Izzy talking about horses.

Cambry wanted to come on the ride, but since they don't allow doubles, she was too young to ride by herself.  She was happy to sit on the horse for a few minutes. 

While we were on the ride the guide told us there had been a grizzly bear around the property for the last couple of days and that their dog was missing.  I was a little worried the whole ride, I was looking around for the grizzly bear.  Luckily they found their dog the next day and I never saw the grizzly our whole trip. After the horseback riding, they went up to sheep mountain and I stayed with Brielle. 

Mike got a little snooze in while holding Brielle.  We got a little worried for her safety so we grabbed her. 

On Saturday we rode more 4-wheelers and went into town.

Saturday afternoon we did the rope swing.  I had never done it before.  You park at Debry's cabin and then hike back to Broadwater. 

The hiking group making lots of noise to keep the grizzly bear away. 

Izzy had no fear and was ready to go!

I had to try it out too!! The water was cold, but not as bad as I expected.  We will be doing that again next year.

On the walk back, both kids fell asleep.  Not sure how that is comfortable for Cambry. 

There was lots of fishing that went on throughout the whole trip.  Anytime they could sneak off for some fishing time, they did. 

Sunday morning we went to church in the barn and then headed home.  The spirit is always so strong in that little barn.  Laura (Vic's daughter) spoke and Laura's daughter, Kameesha spoke.  She was the best youth speaker I have ever heard!

We sat in the back row, it was a full house!

Always great to drive through buffalo land on the way home.  The drive was pretty smooth, we make it home in just under 8 hours, which is record time.  I had made sandwiches so we didn't bother to stop and eat anywhere; the girls were being good in the car so we just kept going.  It was such a great trip and I'm glad I get to share this special place with my kids. 

Always Fun when Grandma visits

Grandma flew in Thursday even and got to see Izzy's swim meet.  It was so fun that she could be there to cheer her on.

She's official now with her swim cap.

I am so proud of her hard work this swimming season.  She never complained once about practice.

Of course we took a trip to the animal farm, it doesn't matter how many times we go, the girls love it.

Wagon ride is a must.

Grandma always does such fun things with the kids.  They absolutely adore when she comes.  Making a cake and decorating it is always a hit.

Friday night, Mike and I escaped to Park City with Dave and Brittany Durazzani and my Mom watched the girls.  The boys flew their drones and Brittany and I hung out.

Mom bought them gorgeous matching dresses.  They are so lucky to have such an amazing Grandma. 

Mom and I got out Tuesday evening and did some shopping at the outlets.  It was nice to spend some time just the 2 of us and get to talk.

We went to the Provo Beach Resort.  Izzy wanted to do the ropes course, I was a little nervous of the heights, but Izzy had no fear.  Cambry wanted to come too, but she got scared as soon as we went to the stairs, which relieved me because I really didn't want to take her since I was already nervous. 

I love that she is so adventurous and willing to try new things. 

There she goes.

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful mother.  She is so kind, sweet, helpful, thoughtful, I could go on and on.  She an amazing grandmother, doing so many fun activities with the girls.  They keep asking when she is coming back.  Thanks so much Mom for coming to visit; we loved every minute of it!!

Rachel arrived on Sunday and stayed for a couple of days with her kids.  I love spending time with Rachel, I am so lucky to be so close to my cousin.  The kids played together really well, they loved having Avery, Ainsley, and Beckham visit.